2018 - Here we go!

What will the coming year mean for travelers? The implications of the new Tax Reform bill are not fully known, but we can assure travelers that there’s no need to panic. PanTravelers COO David Whitesell, RN has provided a tax reform update summarizing what we know to date.

How about job orders and compensation? Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) conducts well regarded proprietary research examining trends in temporary staffing, independent contracting and other types of contingent labor. The Healthcare Staffing Summit is their annual conference that focuses on our segment of the workforce. We attended, and here’s some of what we learned:

SIA has projected that growth in U.S healthcare temporary staffing revenue will continue to increase throughout 2018 but at a slower rate. 2017 showed a very strong 17% growth, whereas 2018 is projected to deliver a still strong 8% growth.

Bill rates have shown steady if modest growth since 2012 and this trend is projected to continue in 2018. The last comprehensive bill rate survey was conducted by SIA in 2016. In that survey, the aggregate U.S. travel nurse bill rate was $73.88 per hour, with the average compensation (including wages, bonuses, payroll taxes, and all reimbursements) coming in at just over $50 per hour. The average gross profit margin for agencies is 25%. Compensation varies widely depending on the region, specialty and season, but this is a big improvement from just a few years ago.

Although SIA’s projections look generally good for travelers over the next two years, there are some unknowns that could affect both demand and compensation for travelers. These include potential cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, destabilization of Healthcare Exchanges, and even a possible recession.